I don't know how this Red-Winged Black Bird found something strong enough to hold him up in this sea of young plants out on Pleasure Island. But he grabbed hold of two stalks -- on in each leg and sent a message by looking up. However the wind was brisk and after a few minutes he gave up his King on the Flowers position.

Gull glides by looking for lunch

This friendly fellow flew by me slowly several times as I was at Walter Humphrey State Park on Pleasure Island shooting pictures.  I guess he was wondering why I was throwing him some of the fish I caught (I wasn't fishing).   I don't know what the hanging leg was all about.  Maybe it was in case I tried to some of his food or something.

Black Skimmer in flight over Port Arthur

Skittish as they were, I was still able to catch this shot of a Black Skimmer while I was in Port Arthur Sunday.  As soon as they saw my head over the bushes, the squawking got visible louder and sharper.  However, a few of them flew past where I was standing. That's how I snapped this photo.

Black Skimmers having summer beach party in Port Arthur

Daragh Castillo posted on her Facebook page that Mary Meaux with the Port Arthur News had taken a photo of some black skimmers in Port Arthur.  Since I had never seen black skimmers, I took a ride down there and found these guys.  There were about 30 of them, but it was hard to get them all in the photo.  In fact, it was hard to get a picture at all -- they were so wary.

As soon as my head popped over the bushes, the call went out and they took flight. A white bird, not a black skimmer, was doing the watch-out duties and kept flying over my head and squawking -- just in case any of the black skimmers needed to know where the enemy was.

The photo below shows why they are called "skimmers" -- they fly just inches off the top of the water and all they have to do is open their beaks. The beak easily scoops up what they are after in the water.

Both pictures were taken on a sand bar beach on Pleasure Island just to the right about 200 feet where the bridge road drops out on Hwy 82.

Divided attention (Green Heron)

On the road over to Lake Sabine a while back I ran into this Green Heron (Butorides virescens) with it's neck stuckout -- they usually hold it tight against their body. I suppose he was trying to decide between watching me or watching for dinner.
--steve buser

Green Heron. Butorides virescens, Port Arthur, Texas

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The passion is wilting

A Passion Flower, off in the brush near Port Arthur, Texas. The dry weather we have been having seemed to be having its toll on this flower. It was withering a bit in the blistering 100 degree heat.

--steve buser

Passion Flower, Port Arthur, Te xas, weather

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The final fish.

The last fish of the day. Make it be that big one. The braggable one. Just this one time. Lake Sabine, Port Arthur Texas.
--Steve Buser

Fishing, Port Arthur, Texas

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Sparrow have no spare love

A group of these house sparrows had taken over this palm tree in Port Arthur, TX -- making nest in the stubs of branches that had been trimmed near the foliage of the tree.   They were so packed in there, that when they flew back to the tree, they often entered the wrong cubbyhole -- which elicited a strong rebuke from the occupant.

Trouble was that a group of grackles were hanging out in the tree next door  -- just the normal comings and goings of both groups make for a raucous level of activity.

--steve buser

House Sparrow, Grackles, birds, nest, Port Arthur, Texas

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The bridge to heaven

The Rainbow Bridge between Bridge City and Port Arthur, TX isn't quite as steep as it looks here, but once you know the history, you'll appreciate a ride to the top on it.

According to the "Handbook of Texas Online" -- the proposal of a bridge to replace a ferry along Highway 87 casued a fight between Beaumont and Port Arthur factions -- Beaumont folk were fearful a bridge would impede navigation of the river up to Beaumont's dock. Port Arthur wanted the bridge to allow more vehicle traffic along the highwat and therefore more commerce.

"Beaumont representatives offered to end the controversy if the Port Arthur faction would approve a vertical clearance of 185 feet for the bridge. The matter ended with a compromise of 176 feet. The bridge was built with a vertical clearance of 176+ feet, a main span of 680 feet between main piers, and 600 feet between fenders. The clearance was to allow the tallest ship afloat at the time (the Navy dirigible tender USS Patoka) to pass."

At the time this was the largest bridge ever built by the Texas Highway Department ( it was also built to withstand a 130 mph wind -- something it has been tested with a few times in recent years)

Check out the whole story.

--steve buser

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Levee Walk --Port Arthur

Enjoy a relaxing walk along the levee on the Sabine Neches Waterway in Port Arthur. The board walk gives a scenic view of Pleasure Island and occasional passing ships and barges.
-- steve buser

He had a leg up on me.

This cattle egret (Bubulcus ibis) may look like he is walking but actually he was doing just what you see. As I drove up to park down at Lamar State College Port Arthur, three of these egrets were just standing there sunning. They were kind of indignant hat I had spoiled their party, and started walking away. I pulled out my camera and started shooting from inside the car to keep from disturbing them.

This fellow walked a few more feet. He then stood still and raised his leg back behind him. Before I got this shot, the leg was higher. It really looked kind of awkward. I suppose he was sending me some kind of sign of indifference.

--steve buser

cattle egret, Bubulcus ibis, bird, nature, egret, Texas, Port Arthur

Wave of destruction

This was the levee by the marina on Pleasure Island after Hurricane Ike scrummed the coast of Texas last year.  The boats and yachts were strewn everywhere and then covered with a thick, smelly mass of sea grass.  Dozers were pulling out some of the boats when I went by at the end of October.  Others were still awaiting contact with their owners.   The work of rebuilding the marina and the island goes on.

--steve buser

Hurricane Ike, destruction, weather, severe weather, boats, yachts, Texas, Port Arthur